LITTLE KINGED PLOVER 235 



ground color is often grayish when fresh but dries out to a yellowish 

 stone or pale reddish ocherous, with many fine streaks and spots 

 of dark brown and numerous small ashy streaks or spots. On the 

 whole the markings are paler and scantier than w.ith the Kentish 

 plover, but in rare cases large blotches of rich brown and ash colors 

 are found in some sets, and others show an approach to the normal 

 type of Kentish plover. The eggs are laid in a mere holjow without 

 lining in the gravel. The measurements of 100 eggs (68 by the 

 writer and 32 by Rey) average 29.8 by 22.08 millimeters; the eggs 

 showing the four extremes measure 32.8 by 23, 30.1 by 23.5, 27.3 

 by 21.1, and 28.6 by 21 millimeters. 



Young. — Incubation is said by Naumann (1887) to be apparently 

 performed by both sexes, but in warm and sunny weather the eggs 

 are left for long periods uncovered. The period is over 22 days, 

 probably 23 or 24 (not 16 or 17 as erroneously given by Naumann). 

 Only one brood is reared in the season as a rule, but some dates are 

 extremely late and point to an occasional second brood. 



Plumages. — The plumages and molts are fully described in A 

 Practical Handbook of British Birds, edited by H. F. Witherby 

 (1920). 



Food. — Definite records are scanty, but it is evident that the main 

 food consists of insects, including the smaller Coleoptera and their 

 larvae; Diptera and larvae; Neuroptera (Phryganeidae or caddis 

 flies and larvae). Naumann also found a small worm in one case in 

 the stomach. 



Behavior. — ^Witherby (1919) writes: 



The little ringed plover is even more demonstrative than the Kentish and it 

 is shyer and more difficult to mark onto its nest or young. Both species have a 

 very plaintive alarm note which they utter constantly as they fly round the 

 intruder, but the Kentish is less fussy and less noisy than the little ringed. 

 When one is near the young both species go through various outcries, such as 

 running along the ground crouching low with head stretched out, lying on the 

 side with one wing up, the legs stretched out and the tail spread, or witli the 

 breast on the ground and l)oth wings half spread, but the performance of the 

 Kentish is much less abandoned than that of the little ringed. 



P. W. Munn (1921) also writes: 



The behavior of the birds at their nest is totally different from Kentish 

 plovers, which are not demonstrative whilst they have eggs ; but the little 

 ringed plover flies wildly round and round, twisting and doubling and uttering 

 its wild whistle, or else runs frantically about on the ground, whistling 

 plaintively.. 



Enemies. — The eggs are occasionally taken by Corvidae, and the 

 birds themselves sometimes fall victims to Accipitres. 



